Duststorm (Energon)

Duststorm is a Decepticon combiner limb from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

"Well hey, Storm Jet remembers his friends and knows to treat 'em right, man. At least the ones that don't sell out anyway."

Little is notable about Construction Team member Duststorm, except for his ability to form a limb of the powerful Constructicon Maximus and perhaps other combiners.

Fiction

Energon cartoon

Shortly after awakening from their long slumber, Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus were ordered by Galvatron to pursue the fleeing Superion Maximus after the Autobot attempted to attack the Decepticon leader. Both combiners separated into their individual components and gave chase. They later pledged their allegiance to Galvatron, believing he was the future of Cybertron. Wishes

When Six Shot pinpointed an Autobot signal on the planet's surface, Galvatron sent Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus out to investigate. Duststorm and the other components of Constructicon Maximus split from their combined form to beat down Autobot refugees who were attempting to look over the Miranda II's crash site for survivors. Their rampage was interrupted by the arrival of Arcee and Kicker. Though Bruticus Maximus gave chase to the duo, they got away. The Decepticons found their quarry again a little later, after the Omnicons had blocked off some energon pipelines to weaken the Decepticons' planetary defense grid. They recombined to gun down Kicker and the Omnicons, but were countered by the arrival of Optimus Prime and other Autobot reinforcements. Break Through

Hook: Blueberry Flavoured

During a virtual training match between the Autobots and Decepticons, Duststorm and the other Constructicon team members fought alongside the Destruction Team against Storm Jet and his Air Team. Both sides combined and clashed, with Superion Maximus losing the battle. However, they were quickly defeated by Optimus Supreme in the next round. Distribution

After Optimus was blasted under a pile of debris, Galvatron called for Constructicon Maximus and Scorponok to help dig him out. Constructicon Maximus used his individual vehicle modes to clear rubble under which Optimus lay. Superion Maximus, the Prime Force, and Omega Supreme showed up to run interference before the Decepticons could put Optimus down, and Constructicon Maximus recombined to fight the new arrivals. Decepticon Army

When Rodimus, Prowl, and Landmine, now back in control of Cybertron's warp gates, teleported in front of Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus, the former split into his component pieces to do battle. Elsewhere, Galvatron submerged himself into the Super Energon pool a second time, and made the world quake as he began to grow to enormous proportions. Not knowing what the tremor signified, Constructicon Maximus decided to bail from the fight, and resumed his combined form before flying off. Galvatron Terror

Duststorm and the other Constructicon Team members eventually paid for their treachery during a final show down with the Air Team. Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus double teamed Superion Maximus, who held his own and destroyed Constructicon's spark before the Autobot was reduced to just Storm Jet. However, the ghost of Superion's brother appeared, destroying Blackout, giving Storm Jet the chance to procure Constructicon's dead limbs (including Duststorm) and recombined into Superion. Before Bruticus could recover, the Autobot pierced his spark, causing an explosion which engulfed them all. Spark

Toys

Energon

• Buildron (Multi-pack, 2004)

• ID number: EX-01
• Release date: November 17, 2004
• Accessories: Energon clamp, Decepticon energon star
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

Sharing a mold with his teammate Gren, Super Link Long Haul transforms into a heavy-lifting mobile crane of made-up model. His crane boom can extend to almost twice its length, plus features a 5 mm post-hole at the hook to mount his "energon" clamp-weapon. He also includes a blue "super energon" Decepticon-style energon star that can be affixed to the spark crystals of most Super Link / Energon toys.

He can also form a leg or arm to any Energon-style "Powerlinx Combiner" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the left arm of Buildron. Incidentally, if used as an arm, if you rotate the chest plate upwards and reposition his arms, his waist and hips are free to move, giving the combiner arm a functional elbow.

All five members of Buildron were only available in Japan as part of a Toys"R"Us exclusive multi-pack.

This mold was used to make Classics Hightower and Long Haul.

Sure, he looks awkward, but his long-distance wedgies are lethal.

• Duststorm (Energon Class, 2005)

• Team ID number: C2
• Accessories: Energon clamp, Decepticon energon chip
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

The Hasbro release of Duststorm was sold on an individual card, in the sixth wave of Energon "Energon Class" (aka "Basic") toys, the first wave featuring the combiners.

Duststorm has a few small deco changes from the Takara release; most notably his clear-blue plastic is a lighter shade than Long Haul's. Most releases of Duststorm have the gear-shaped "Powerlinx" symbol on his crane-cabin roof, which Long Haul lacks, but the earliest releases of Duststorm lack this tampograph. Whoops!

• More information on Duststorm at TFU.info

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Long Haul (ロングハウル Rongu Hauru)